Cage Warriors 55 headliner Cathal Pendred sees current home as WEC of Europe

With his training partner Conor McGregor making a big splash in the UFC, Cage Warriors’ Cathal Pendred looks at his next fight as a chance to boost his career.

Pendred (12-2-1) tagged along when McGregor appeared on a popular Irish talk show to talk about his win over Marcus Brimage at UFC on FUEL TV 9, so he’s gotten a taste of the spotlight.

Now, he’s looking to make a statement against Che Mills (15-5) so he might get his own.

“Che did all right in the UFC, but I think I’m on a different level, and I think the way I prove that is by going in there and taking him out,” Pendred told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio).

Pendred, who seized the welterweight title in his previous outing, headlines Cage Warriors 55 opposite Mills on Saturday at The Helix in Dublin. The event’s main card streams live on MMAjunkie.com following prelims on Facebook.

The 25-year-old Dubliner already has taken a step up in the difficulty of his fights. Pendred’s meeting at Cage Warriors 52 with Gael Grimaud was contested over five rounds, a challenge he passed with flying colors by winning a unanimous decision and the title.

“It’s huge getting that experience so early in my career,” Pendred said. “Going five rounds is a great thing to have under your belt. It was something that was on my mind before the fight. It’s a long time fighting.

“In the fifth round, I felt like I could do another round. So doing that has given me great confidence in my cardio.”

But he may not even need a big gas tank if Mills fights the way he expects. Mills, who makes his first appearance since a lackluster loss to Matt Riddle at UFC on FUEL TV 7 (which was later changed to a no-contest when Riddle tested positive for marijuana), has won the majority of fights by KO or TKO.

Pendred fancies himself better on the feet and on the ground, but he’s hoping that Mills comes out aggressively.

“Sometimes, I come forward and guys step back,” he said. “I don’t think he’s going to do that, so I definitely think it’s going to make an interesting fight.”

The fact that the event takes place on home soil doesn’t hurt, either.

“It will definitely bring out the best in me,” Pendred said. “I fought in the same venue this time last year, and the crowd was unbelievable. The Irish fans are crazy, and the sport has only gotten better here. It’s exploded in popularity in the past six months.”

McGregor is obviously the first breakout star in that surge. Pendred, though, could be next if Cage Warriors continues to provide a solid platform for him to shine.

“I kind of see it as what the WEC was a couple of years ago,” he said. “It’s got the cream of the crop in European guys, and I’m the king of that welterweight division. It’s probably the most stacked division, and I’m leading the pack. I’m ready to take the next step.”

MMAjunkie.com Radio broadcasts Monday-Friday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) live from Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino’s Race & Sports Book. The show is hosted by “Gorgeous” George Garcia, MMAjunkie.com lead staff reporter John Morgan and producer Brian “Goze” Garcia. For more information or to download past episodes, go to www.mmajunkie.com/radio.

UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey is probably the greatest female fighter on the planet, which is a tremendous feat. So why are we seemingly so obsessed with arguing about whether she could beat up men?